Final CPD Review Report of the Lawyer Education Advisory ...

1

Final CPD Review Report of the Lawyer Education Advisory Committee

Lawyer Education Advisory Committee Dean Lawton, QC (Chair) Sarah Westwood (Vice-Chair) Jasmin Ahmad Tom Fellhauer Brook Greenberg Micah Rankin Phil Riddell Tony Wilson, QC

December 8, 2017

Prepared for: Benchers

Prepared by:

Alison Luke, Staff Lawyer, Policy and Legal Services Alan Treleaven, Director, Education and Practice

Purpose:

Decision

On December 8, 2017, the Benchers approved the Recommendations outlined in this Report with the exception of Recommendations 10 and 22B. The issues addressed in Recommendation 10 will be subject to further consideration by the appropriate Law Society Committee in 2018. Recommendation 22A was adopted by the Benchers in favour of Recommendation 22B.

DM1691311

2

Table of Contents

Executive Summary............................................................................................................................4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................4 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 5

History of CPD in British Columbia ..............................................................................................5 The 2016-2017 review process.......................................................................................................6

Committee meetings ............................................................................................................................... 7 Engagement with other jurisdictions....................................................................................................... 8 Consultation with the profession ............................................................................................................ 8 Purpose of the Final Report ................................................................................................................9 Program objectives and key design features.......................................................................................9 Continuation of the CPD program..................................................................................................9 Purpose statement .........................................................................................................................10 Key design features ......................................................................................................................11 Accreditation model .............................................................................................................................. 11 Linkages to practice areas and testing................................................................................................... 12 Learning plans ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Content of the CPD program: subject matters..................................................................................14 Subject matters .............................................................................................................................15 Professional Wellness ............................................................................................................................ 15 Pro bono and legal aid ........................................................................................................................... 23 Knowledge primarily within the practice scope of other professions and disciplines .......................... 24 Practice Management............................................................................................................................ 26 Lawyering Skills ...................................................................................................................................... 31 Delivery of the CPD program: Learning modes...........................................................................33 Courses .................................................................................................................................................. 34 Online interactive courses, local bar and CBA section meetings and study groups.............................. 34 Teaching................................................................................................................................................. 35 Writing ................................................................................................................................................... 36 Mentoring .............................................................................................................................................. 37 Self-study ............................................................................................................................................... 38

DM1691311

2

3

Reporting requirements ....................................................................................................................39 Credit-hour requirement ...............................................................................................................39 Imposing caps on credit-hours .............................................................................................................. 40 Exemptions ...................................................................................................................................45 Carry-over ..................................................................................................................................... 46

Compliance and enforcement measures ...........................................................................................48 TRC Calls to Action .........................................................................................................................48 Summary of recommendations .........................................................................................................49 Next Steps.........................................................................................................................................52 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................53

? Law Society of British Columbia. See lawsociety.bc.ca>Terms of use

DM1691311

3

4

Executive Summary

Over the course of the past two years, the Lawyer Education Advisory Committee has examined and evaluated every aspect of BC's continuing professional development ("CPD") program. The Committee now presents its Final Report, which outlines the Committee's consideration of the various features of the current CPD scheme and presents a set of 26 key recommendations designed to improve the overall quality of continuing professional development in BC.

As reflected throughout the Final Report, the Committee supports maintaining many of the core features of the current CPD scheme, including: the accreditation model; the 12 credit-hour requirement; existing subject matters, topics and learning modes; exemption criteria; and compliance and enforcement measures.

The Committee also proposes a number of modifications to the program. In general, these changes will result in an expansion of eligible learning activities and greater flexibility regarding how and when lawyers can satisfy their CPD credits.

Specific recommendations include: the addition of two new subject matters, including Professional Wellness, an increase in the number and type of eligible Practice Management and Lawyering Skills topics, amendments to the criteria governing CPD learning modes, and the introduction of new reporting requirements in which a portion of a lawyer's annual credits can be carried-over to satisfy the following year's CPD requirements.

Collectively, the recommendations contained in the Final Report reflect a more inclusive, responsive and flexible approach to CPD, and represent a new and exciting chapter for continuing legal education in BC.

Introduction

1. Over the past two years, the Lawyer Education Advisory Committee (the "Committee") has undertaken a comprehensive review of BC's Continuing Professional Development ("CPD") program. The length and detail of the Final Report is reflective of the enormity

DM1691311

4

5

of this task, which has spanned two consecutive Committees and engaged more than one thousand lawyers in consultation.

2. In the course of the review process, the Committee addressed and evaluated every aspect of BC's CPD program. The Final Report provides a detailed examination of the various features of the current scheme and presents a set of 26 recommendations designed to improve the overall quality of the CPD program.

3. Following a brief summary of the history of CPD in BC and a general overview of the review process, program objectives and foundational design features are discussed. The Final Report then shifts to the substantive elements of the CPD program, examining eligible and ineligible subject matters and topics, before moving to an evaluation of the learning mode criteria. The Final Report concludes by addressing reporting requirements, compliance and enforcement measures and the relationship between CPD and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #27.

4. Throughout the review process, the Committee has taken care to avoid the overregulation of the CPD program and has favoured modifications that increase reliance on, and trust in lawyers to make wise CPD choices.

5. Many of the recommendations support maintaining the core elements of the current CPD program. Other recommendations propose changes that represent a more liberalized approach to continuing legal education by expanding the scope of eligible CPD activities and delivery modes and providing lawyers with more flexibility as to when and how they may satisfy their CPD requirements.

6. These 26 recommendations are now before the Benchers for discussion and decision. If adopted, the proposed changes will set the course for a new chapter of CPD in BC, one that is responsive to the evolving nature of the practice of law and what it means to be a competent and professional lawyer.

Background

History of CPD in British Columbia

7. Continuing professional development has been the subject of Bencher discussions at various junctures over the past forty years. It was not until 2006, however, that the Lawyer Education Task Force began formally considering the merits of introducing some form of mandatory professional development program in British Columbia.

DM1691311

5

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download